§ 18. Mr. Freudasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many officials are currently employed within his Department.
§ The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Paymaster General and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Francis Pym)Nine men and 10 women, three of the latter being part-time, are employed in the Duchy office, which is not actually a Government Department.
§ Mr. FreudAs the responsibility of the Duchy would appear to be to run the Duchy for Her Majesty, will the Chancellor explain what those people are doing and where they are doing it, and, if it is within the parish of Westminster, might not that office be used more constructively for parliamentary purposes?
§ Mr. PymThey are administrators, surveyors, accounts staff and clerical staff. It is a general office, which for a long period has been either where it is today, or in the vicinity of where it is now located, in the Strand.